The role of biodiversity in food security

Abstract

Currently, the world population is increasing at an alarming rate and production of food should be increased. Biological Diversity or biodiversity component particularly agro-biodiversity such as crop and horticultural biodiversity, animal biodiversity, Forest biodiversity, and microbial biodiversity are essential to world food security. Crop and horticultural biodiversity are important to food security because they are a source of food, fodder for livestocks, carry gene for desirable traits or characteristics, and also are a foundation for crop improvements. In addition, terresterial and aquatic animal biodiversity play an important role in increasing food security including as source of food, alternative source of food, and breed improvement and source of gene for desired trait. Furthermore, animal biodiversity plays indirect role in food security as the skins are sold to purchase food in return, and also as a there dung are used to increase soil fertility there by increasing crop production. Forest genetic resource are also vital for food production and security in many ways. Maintaining soil fertility, income generation and employment, as a source of food and increasing food production, source of fodder and soil erosion control are the main ways by which forest biodiversity contribute to food security. The other component of biodiversity which is microbial biodiversity contribute to food security through increasing plant growth, increasing soil fertility and nutrient cycling. Generally, collection, conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity without compromising future will be necessary and and is vital to food security now and even more so in the future.